Rumors about U.S. plans to open military bases in Tajikistan denied
DUSHANBE. July 16 (Interfax) - Both Tajikistan and the United States have denied rumors that Washington plans to set up military bases in the Central Asian country.
"We are not conducting any negotiations or discussions with the U.S. about setting up military bases in Tajikistan," Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi told a news conference in Dushanbe on Monday. Earlier, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan issued a statement to the same effect.
Russia is having a hard time trying to negotiate with Tajikistan acceptable terms for keeping its current army base in the Central Asian country. This and the planned closure of the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan, a country bordering Tajikistan, are the apparent sources of the rumors about alleged U.S. plans to open U.S. military bases in Tajikistan.